| oscillate | 1. To move backward and forward; to vibrate like a pendulum; to swing; to sway. 2. To vary or fluctuate between fixed limits; to act or move in a fickle or fluctuating manner; to change repeatedly, back and forth. "The amount of superior families oscillates rather than changes, that is, it fluctuates within fixed limits." (Dc Quincey) Origin: L. Oscillare to swing, fr. Oscillum a swing, a little mask or puppet made to be hung from trees and swing in the wind, prob. Orig, a little mouth, a dim. From os mouth. See Oral, and cf. Osculate. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| oscillating | That oscillates; vibrating; swinging. Oscillating engine, a steam engine whose cylinder oscillates on trunnions instead of being permanently fixed in a perpendicular or other direction. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| oscillating vision | The subjective sensation of oscillation of objects viewed. Synonym: oscillating vision. Origin: L. Oscillo, to swing, + G. Opsis, vision (05 Mar 2000) |
| oscillation | 1. The act of oscillating; a swinging or moving backward and forward, like a pendulum; vibration. 2. Fluctuation; variation; change back and forth. "His mind oscillated, undoubtedly; but the extreme points of the oscillation were not very remote." (Macaulay) Axis of oscillation, Center of oscillation. See Axis, and Center. Origin: L. Oscillatio a swinging. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| oscillative | Tending to oscillate; vibratory. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| oscillator | Something that changes regularly or cyclically. Examples: oscillator neurons, which generate regular breathing or locomotory rhythms, slime moulds which secrete cyclic AMP in regular pulses. (18 Nov 1997) |
| oscillatoria | <botany> Same as Oscillaria. Origin: NL. See Oscillatory. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| Oscillatoria princeps | Large cyanobacterium that exhibits gliding movements, possibly involving the activity of helically arranged cytoplasmic fibrils of 6-9nm diameter. (18 Nov 1997) |
| oscillatory | Moving, or characterised by motion, backward and forward like a pendulum; swinging; oscillating; vibratory; as, oscillatory motion. Origin: Cf. F. Oscillatoire. See Oscillate. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| oscillatory potential | The variable voltage in the positive deflection of the electroretinogram (B-wave) of the dark-adapted eye arising from amacrine cells. (05 Mar 2000) |
| oscillograph | An instrument that records oscillations, usually electrical. (05 Mar 2000) |
| oscillography | The study of the records made by an oscillograph. (05 Mar 2000) |
| oscillometer | An apparatus for measuring oscillations of any kind, especially those of the bloodstream in sphygmometry. See: sphygmo-oscillometer. Origin: L. Oscillo, to swing, + G. Metron, measure (05 Mar 2000) |
| oscillometric | Relating to the oscillometer or the records made by its use. (05 Mar 2000) |
| oscillometry | Measurement of oscillations of any kind. In medicine it is used in studying cardiovascular and respiratory physiology. (12 Dec 1998) |